the fOUNDATION BODIES

The Foundation Board comprises those personalities in the Sonova Group who are associated with the foundation’s purpose, due to their attitude and their commitment to date. The foundation’s independence is assured by the external Advisory Board, made up of experts in audiology, which is responsible for evaluating suitable projects proposed to the Foundation Board for the allocation of foundation funds. The Advisory Board members are all employed in an honorary capacity. Incidental expenses are reimbursed as and when they occur.

In addition, three Sonova employees are given the opportunity to liaise with the Advisory Board and serve as employee representatives for a two-year term.

The office is responsible for the foundation’s communications and supports the Advisory Board in the administrative and organisational management of the foundation. Alongside these duties, the office maintains contact with stakeholders and partners.

Former CEO of Sonova Holding AG. Today he is member of the Sonova Board of Directors.

Lukas Braunschweiler was previously the CEO of the Sonova Group from November 2011 until March 2018. He brings with him extensive management experience in Swiss as well as international high-tech companies. For seven years he was President and CEO of the NASDAQ listed Dionex Corporation in the USA, which manufactures scientific analytical devices for laboratories. Prior to that, he was employed for seven years as Divisional Manager and Group Management member at Mettler-Toledo, the global provider of precision systems. After graduation, he worked in positions at various companies, including Landis & Gyr AG (now Siemens AG). Lukas Braunschweiler acquired his certification as graduate chemist as well as his doctorate as Dr. sc. nat. at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH).

Sarah Kreienbühl

Member of the General Management of Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund, responsible for the departement human resources, communication, culture and leisure.

Previous to her current position, Sarah Kreienbühl was Group Vice President of Corporate HRM und Corporate Communications for the Sonova Group, from 2004 until 2017. Before she wasHead of Global Human Resources and Executive Board member of the Tecan Group in Männedorf, Switzerland. Prior to that position she was a consultant at Amrop International, Zurich, Switzerland, where, in addition to her executive search projects, she also introduced new assessment and management audit services. Today she is Head of Department HR, Cultural & Social Affairs, Leisure and member of the General Directorate of the Migros-Genossenschaftsbund.

Ora Buerkli

Employed at Phonak AG since 1984, now in the position of Vice President Product Marketing.

Ora Buerkli is also responsible for the two unique segment: children with hearing loss, and those affected by significant hearing loss.In this context she launched the Phonak Pediatric Advisory Board and a series of conferences called “Sound Foundation for Early Amplification”. In her early days at Phonak she built up the “Audiology und Training” Division, which she also managed for many years. Ora Buerkli has many years of clinical experience in the fitting of hearing aids to children and adults. She studied Audiology in the USA. She holds a BA from the Hunter College in New York and a Master of Science from the San Francisco State University.

Jean Anne Schnittker

Jean Anne Schnittker has eight years of experience working for the Sonova Group.

As an audiologist in the Research & Development department, she works on tools to improve the hearing aid fitting process. After six years with the company in the United States, she relocated to the headquarters in Stäfa, Switzerland, in 2011. Jean Anne Schnittker acquired her Master of Science in audiology at Purdue University and her Doctor of Audiology at the University of Florida.

Apryl Sweat

Director of Global Sales and Market Development at Advanced Bionics LLC since 2014

Apryl Sweat joined Advanced Bionics in 2001 and has served as Clinical Specialist, Regional Manager, and East U.S. Sales Director. An audiologist by training, she currently is Director of Global Sales and Market Development where she is responsible for sales training and education as well as consumer outreach and customer relations. Ms. Sweat holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication sciences and a Master of Arts in audiology from the University of Tennessee.

Prof. Dr. Richard Seewald

Professor Dr. Richard Seewald is well known for his tireless efforts in pediatric audiology over many decades.

He spearheaded the development of an internationally recognized DSL method for fitting hearing systems to children. Prior to his retirement, Seewald held the Canada Research Chair in Childhood Hearing at that country's National Centre for Audiology, which he co-founded. He is a Distinguished University Professor Emeritus in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Western Ontario.

Prof. Dr. Jerry L. Northern

Jerry L. Northern, PhD, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado School of Medicine where he served as of Director of Audiology for 26 years.

Dr. Northern is from Denver, Colorado USA where he was raised by his deaf grandparents communicating through American Sign Language. A prolific writer and editor of several professional journals, he has authored a dozen textbooks in the areas of hearing and hearing disorders. Internationally known for his expertise in pediatric audiology, Professor Northern has served as a consultant in nearly 30 countries. His professional career includes extensive experience in clinical practice, teaching and lecturing, research, medical-legal issues and the hearing aid industry. Dr. Northern is a founding member and past president of the American Academy of Audiology.

Prof. Dr. Beatriz Novaes

Beatriz Novaes is a professor of The Department of Human and Health Science at PUCSP, Brazil and Superintendent of Derdic, a clinical and educational facility maintained by Fundação São Paulo and academically part of PUCSP.

She has been involved in the area of early intervention for hearing impaired for 30 years and has experience in Audiology, Speech Therapy, focusing on Aural Rehabilitation, and Hearing Health. Her research is primarily focused on intervention programs for hearing impaired children and their families, particularly those of low income families addressing the issue of adhesion to consistent use and care of electronic devices and initial steps of therapeutic process. She was founder member of the Brazilian Academy of Audiology. She was honoured in 2012 as speech pathologist and audiologist of the year by the Brasilian Society of Phonoaudiology (speech pathology and audiology). Dr Novaes is currently a member of an advisory committee of the Ministry of Health, involving consulting in public policies for people with disabilities.

Prof. Dr. Patricia Roush

Patricia Roush, AuD, is a Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, and Director of Pediatric Audiology at the University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.

Dr. Roush has been a practicing clinician for over 35 years. Prior to joining the faculty at UNC in 2000, she was a pediatric audiologist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Boston Children’s Hospital, Denver Children’s Hospital, and Duke University Medical Center. Her areas of specialization and clinical research have focused on the diagnosis of hearing loss and fitting of amplification in infants, and on the audiologic management of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder. Dr. Roush has published on a variety of topics related to audiological management of infants and young children and has lectured nationally and internationally. She is currently is Professor of Otolaryngology in the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and Director of Pediatric Audiology at UNC Hospitals, USA.

Dr. med. Dorothe Veraguth

Dr. med. Dorothe Veraguth is Head of Divisions of Phoniatrics, Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland.

Dr. Veraguth currently heads the Audiology department of the Ear, Nose, Throat and Facial Surgery Clinic at the University Hospital Zurich. This phoniatrics specialist holds a teaching position at this university, teaches logopedics and audio pedagogy at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences of Special Needs Education (HfH), and holds another teaching position in the field of pediatric hearing-aid acoustics. In addition, Dr. Veraguth is the Chairperson of the Audiology Committee at the Swiss Ear, Nose, Throat and Facial Surgery Association (SGORL).

Mevina defines the strategic priorities of Sonova's global sustainability program and coordinates the implementation through a network of functional CSR Champions. She holds two Master degrees from the University of St. Gallen in International Affairs and in International Management. Her past experience in the field of sustainability includes working for the Swiss federal railway company SBB.

Lindsay Roberts

Lindsay Roberts is a pediatric audiologist and a member of the Phonak US Pediatric Sales Team.

In that role she partners with school and clinical audiologists to provide education and training on Phonak pediatric products and the Roger wireless communication systems.Lindsay began her career at Phonak in August 2012. She received her Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology and Audiology and her Doctorate of Audiology from West Virginia University.

Edie Gibson

In 2005, Edie Gibson joined Advanced Bionics where she has served as Bionic Ear Association Manager, Senior Consumer Specialist and Clinical Specialist.

Currently, she is responsible for the training and education of cochlear implant recipients and professionals in the South Eastern United States. Edie graduated from Gallaudet University in 1998 with a Masters of Audiology and from University of Florida in 2001 with a Doctorate in Audiology.

Elena Torresani

As Director Hear the World Initiative Elena Torresani leads the Hear the World Foundation.

In her role Elena directs the Foundation's operations and management, coordinates the meetings of the Board of Trustees, leads strategic key projects and the team of the Hear the World office.
After completing her business administration studies in Lucerne, Switzerland, she worked for three years in the Sponsorship and Events Department of a Swiss bank both in Zurich and New York. She joined the Hear the World Foundation in 2009 and is in her current position since 2012.

Louise Sen

As a Program Manager Louise Sen ensures a professional and successful collaboration with Hear the World's project partner all around the world.

Further Louise is responsible for the worldwide media relations of the Hear the World Foundation and the Hear the World ambassador program. She holds a Master’s degree in Communication Management and Leadership from the Zurich University of applied Sciences (ZHAW) and has broad experience in overall communication with a focus on public relations from her former positions in a Swiss communication agency as well as in international companies.

Laura Meng

As a Program Manager Laura Meng ensures a professional and successful collaboration with Hear the World's project partner all around the world.

Further Laura is responsible for the internal communication and the Sonova employee engagement program of the foundation. She holds a Master's degree in Communication Management from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. Previously she worked for a telecommunication provider in the field of internal communication and employee engagement and a Public Relations Agency in Zurich.

Carole Witmer

As a Program Manager, Carole Witmer ensures a professional and successful collaboration with Hear the World's project partner all around the world.

Carole is also in charge of the Hear the World Foundation’s website, blog, newsletter and social media channels. Shehas a degree in media and communication studies from the University of Fribourg, along with a Master of Business Communications degree from the University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration Zurich (HWZ). She has gathered comprehensive experience spanning the entire communications repertoire at Swiss online and PR agencies, as well as at various other Swiss companies.

Give the gift of hearing

Our vision is a world in which everybody has the chance of good hearing. To turn this vision into reality, we support projects all over the world benefiting people and particularly children in need with hearing loss and open up a prospect of a better future for them.

Give the gift of hearing

With your donation you help people in need to better hear. Thanks to your contribution we can provide even more powerful hearing solutions and free-of-charge follow-up care to people and particularly children in need with hearing loss all over the world.

100 % of your donation effectively used

We guarantee to direct every donation efficiently, in order to make a sustained contribution towards better hearing in conjunction with our professional partners all over the world. And as Sonova bears all of the administrative costs of the foundation, 100 percent of your support goes directly to our projects.

How to donate

You can make an online donation via Paypal or donate via bank transfer:

All personal information collected will be used exclusively for the purpose of this donation and will only be shared with companies duly accredited. Please check our privacy policy for more information.

The Hear the World Foundation is an officially recognized swiss foundation and all donations are tax deductible following the rules and regulations of your country of residency.

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